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Vansadale: “Over the summer is best to think a lot about the heat and farmers are definitely subject to heat stress and heat exposure — especially ones who are baling hay, working on equipment, out working in the fields. So we really focus a lot on breaks, staying hydrated, wearing hats for sun protection and sun block. Make sure that they are taking care of themselves so heat stress and fatigue doesn’t set in.”

Vansadale says that farmers need to make safety a priority and that often accidents happen when tired, distracted, stressed or in a hurry. Farmers shouldn’t overlook the quality of their healthy or put their safety second to the job at hand. He continues

Vansadale: “One thing that we have been focusing a lot on in recent years as the farming population continues to age is just making sure that people understand how their prescription medications impact their body and their mental state. Some of the drugs out there can slow down your reaction time, or make you even more dehydrated or more subject to heat stress. Talk to your doctor to know how it interacts or if you start a new drug that you are patience before you push yourself too hard so you know how that might interact with your system when you are out there trying to work.”